Fluid conductor and take-off



July 9, 1957 J. J. BAKER ET AL ,7

FLUID CONDUCTOR AND TAKE-OFF Filed Dec. 28, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEY July 9, 1957 J. J. BAKER ET AL 2,798,506

FLUID CONDUCTOR AND TAKE-OFF Filed Dec. 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a? ZZ5 w a0 I; Z INVENTORS J0 hr; 0 146'? ATTORNEYS July 1957 J. J. BAKER ETAL 2,798,506

FLUID CONDUCTOR AND TAKE-OFF 3 SheetsSheet Filed Dec. 28, 1955INVENTORIS fidkezz ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent This invention relates to fluid conductors orsupply lines and fluid take-01f means therefor, and more particularly toa conductor and take-off assembly for supplying pressure fluid tooperate mobile and stationary machines of various kinds in factories,machine shops and the like.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a fluid pressureconductor and take-01f means connected thereto which is movable alongthe conductor without losing contact with the supply of fluid in theconductor so that pressure-operated machines such as hoists, cranes andthe like may be continuously supplied, at various desired locations inthe factory without necessitating the provision of a plurality of fluidreservoirs or air compressors, or the employment of long lengths of hosewhich would obstruct floor space. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of. the typedescribed which eliminates the time-consuming and costly necessity oftapping into an existing supply line or conductor at a plurality ofpoints when pressure fluid supplied machines are moved from one locationto another in the factory.

Another object of the invention is to design a conductor and fluidtake-off assembly of simple and practical construction which isleak-proof, and will not permit the escape and consequent loss of thepressure fluid.

A still further object of the invention is to design a pressure fluidconductor and take-off unit assembly which can be economicallymanufactured, and readily assembled and installed with a minimum ofdifliculty and expense.

Briefly, the invention comprises a normally sealed, longitudinally splitconductor line formed of a resilient, deformable material in combinationwith a radially ported, revolvable fluid take-01f wheel which issupported so as to be movable along the line, and extends into the lineto spread the splitwall thereof and provide an outlet opening at anydesired point intermediate the length of said line. Certain of the portsin the wheel are in communication with the outlet opening and a passageleading to a delivery line is provided in the stationary hub of thewheel in communication with only these designated ports.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minordetails of construction, without departing from the spirit, orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of our novel fluid con ductor andtake-01f assembly.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view of our conductor, showingalso the ported wheel, the wheel supporting hanger members, track andwheel being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modified embodimentof our invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the take-01f wheel only, a portionthereof being broken away to show the novel arrangement of the radiallyextending passages in the take-elf wheel.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein wehave shown the preferred embodiments of our invention, a letter Cgenerally indicates our conductor which can be employed to supply anyliquid or gaseous pressure medium as desired and includes an inverted,U-shaped, metallic conduit or casing 10, the free edges of which areturned inwardly as at 11 and thence terminate in spaced-apart, upwardlyangled portions as at 12.

A resilient, deformable,extruded rubber liner 13 is fitted in theconduit 10 in any suitable manner, the liner having a longitudinallysplit lower wall including upwardly disposed, angled, convergingportions 14, which extend beyond the free edges of the conduit 10 andare provided with normally abutting, enlarged sections 15 (see Fig. 2 ofthe drawings). Integral partitioning ribs 16 join the outer wall of theliner 13 and the outer corners of the substantially rectangular-shapedportions 15 to define a main air conducting passage 17 and side pressureequalizing chambers 18, the chambers 18 communicating with the passage17 through ports 19 provided at longitudinally spaced intervals in theribs 15. When the liner 13 is extruded, the sections 15 may be separatedby the extrusion die or may, of course, be formed as one-piece andthence are later split to form the separable sealing sections. It is tobe observed that a split depending bead 20 is provided as shown toincrease the area of the sealing surfaces, and longitudinal openings 21are provided in .the sections 15. Plugs 22 are provided for the ends ofthe conduit 10 and an air intake line I leads from a source ofcompressed air or other pressure fluid supply through the conduit intothe chamber 17 asshown.

Provided at longitudinally spaced intervals on the con- Lduit 10 arereinforcing plates or brackets B which prevent .the conduit fromspreading under the pressure of the fluid carried thereby and which maybe employed to support the conductor 10 in a building in any suitablemanner. Mounted on the sides of the brackets 22 are tracks 23, theangularly disposed legs 23a of which are slightly inclined as clearlyshown in Fig. 3 of the draw- ,ings. Hanger members 24 provided withrollers 25 on their upper ends, ride on the tracks 23, and support atake-off wheel 26 as will now be further described.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the wheel 26, which ispreferably of metallic construction, is removably mounted on a hub 27formed with reduced ends 28 to which the lower end of the hangers 24 areconnected, and nuts 29 are threaded on the ends of the hub 27 as shown,an outlet hose 30 leading from one end of the hub 27, all as shown inFigs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The wheel 26 is of suflicient diameter to extend into the conduit 10 andspread the sections 15 of the liner 13 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, so that certain of the radially extending passages 31,provided in the wheel 26, are in communication with the supply chamber17. The hub 27 of the wheel 26 is ported as at 32 to permit the passageof air from only those passages 31 which are in communication with thechamber 17 to the bore 33 which leads out the one end of the hub to theoutlet line 30.

In operation, it will be seen (see Fig. 4) that a limited section of theperipheral outer rim of the wheel 26 extends into the casing 10 so thata limited number of passages 31 are open to the passage 17 in theconduit 10,

the lips of the conduit yieldingly and tightly engaging the outerperiphery of the wheel to form a leak-proof joint therewith, permittingair to freely flow through the continuous passages formed by thesepassages 31, the port 32, and the bore33 to the outlet hose 30 withoutleaking to atmosphere. The pressure equalizing chambers 18 permit theremainder of the lining 13 to remain closed even under pressures of over150 p. s. i. The ports 19 through the ribs 16 are virtually closed atthe point where the lining is deformed by the wheel 26 as will be seenfrom an inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that a plurality of the take -off units, which wehave described, may be employed on a given conductor line 10 and asvarious pressure fluid powered machines are moved to various locations,the take-off units are moved on the line 10 to supply them. Further, ofcourse, it may be desirable in some instances to provide a T or othermultiple connector fitting in place of the fitting 30a which isconnected to the hub 27 to supply several machines from a singletake-off unit. In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown a modified embodiment ofmy invention in which the construction of the take-01f wheel isdifferent from that of the Wheel illustrated in Figs. 14. Thelongitudinally extending conduit 10 as before includes portions 11 and12' and the liner 13 includes portions 14, 15, and 16' to again form amain air conducting passage 17' and side pressure equalizing chambers18'. Ports 19' connect the chambers 17' and 18 and plugs (not shown), ofcourse, are provided for the ends of the conduit and a pressure fluidsupply line (not shown) similarly leads into the chamber 17'. VReinforcing plates B on the conduit 10 support tracks 23' which supportthe hangers 24', the latter members including rollers 25' which ride onthe tracks 23'. The lower ends of the hangers 24 are formed with hearinghousings 34 in which are roller bearings 35 for rotatably supporting thereduced ends 36 of the hub shaft 37 of the take-off wheel 26. Nuts 38secure the bearings 35 in position and as will be seen, the hub 37rotates with the wheel 26' and delivers the pressure medium through abored passage 39 to a stationary fitting 40 which is connected toasupply hose (not shown). The wheel 26', of course, is of sufficientdiameter to extend into the conduit 10 and spread the sections 15 of theliner 13 so that certain of the radially extending passages 41 providedin the wheel 26' are in communication with the supply chamber 17. Thepassages 41 are drilled in sufficient proximity one to the other thatthey intersect as shown at 4112 and at spaced intervals a passage 41extends beyond the point of intersection as at 41b into communicationwith an enlarged annular header chamber 42 provided in the wheel. Fromthe chamber 42 ports 43 extend through the hub 37 into the bored passage39. As will be seen, check valve fittings 44 are provided in the outerend of each plassage 41 and these fittings include ball chambers 45 withballs 46 therein adapted to close the valve ports 47.

In operation, only a limited portion of the peripheral outer rim of thewheel 26' extends into the casing 10 so that only a limited number ofpassages 41 communicate with the supply passage 17 in the casing. Thepressure of the fluid in the passage 17 forces the balls 46 in thefittings 44 in these passages off their seats to permit the passage ofthe fluid through the valve ports 47 into these passages, while theremaining passages 41 not in communication with the passage 17' remaintightly sealed. Since all of the passages 41 intersect the pressurefluid proceeding in through the piassages 41 which are in contact withthe passage 17, forces the balls 46 in the check valves 44 in the otherpassages against their seats. Thus, there is no possibility of thepressure fluid leaking to atmosphere, the pressure fluid finding its way"through the annular passage 41a formed by the intersection of thepassages 41 to the portions 41b of certain passages 41, thence to thechamber 42, the ports 43, and

the passage 39 to the joint or fitting 40. The one end of the hub shaft37 extends into the fitting 40 and is rotatable therein so that thefitting may remain stationary when the wheel rotates as it is moved to anew location on the conduit 10'.

It will thus be applarent that we have perfected a pressure fluidconductor and take-01f unit assembly of novel and practical characterwhich permits a pressure fluid powered machine to be moved to variouslocations in a factory or other building without losing contact with itssupply source.

It is to be understood that the instant descriptive matter is intendedlas illustrative of the principles of the invention rather thanlimiting, and that various equivalent changes may be made in the variouscomponent elements of the device without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

For example, when the term split or longitudinally split is employed inthe claims the term does not necessarily mean a line which is split fromone end thereof to the other, but may also mean a line which has one ormore splits therein at any location or locations in its length. Further,the term fluid has reference to any liquid, gas, or material in a fluidstate.

What we claim is:

1. In a fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, a conductor linehaving a normally sealed, longitudinally split wall formed of aresilient material, and fluid takeofl means movable along said lineextending into said wall at any selected point in the length of thesplit portion thereof to spread said line and form an outlet opening atsaid point, said means covering the area around said opening to preventthe escape of fluid to the atmosphere.

2. In a fluid conductor and take-oft unit assembly, a conductor linehaving a normally sealed, longitudinally split wall formed of aresilient material, a fluid take-off wheel including nadially extendingports open to the periphery thereof extending into said wall at a pointin the length of the split portion thereof to spread the respectivesections of the wall and form an outlet opening at said point incommunication with certain of said ports, said wheel being of sufficientwidth and diameter so that the peripheral surface in contact with theline seals the area surrounding said opening to prevent the escapeoffluid to atmosphere, and means connected to the ports in communicationwith said opening to deliver the fluid therefrom.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which longitudinally disposedtrack means is provided on said line and said wheel is supportedtherefrom.

4. In a pressure fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, a hollowconductor line including a normally sealed, longitudinally split wallformed of a resilient material, said conductor being longitudinallypartitioned to define a central fluid supply chamber, and pressureequalizing chambers adjacent the sides thereof, means for admittingpressure fluid to said chambers, said wall being shaped so that thelatter chambers are at least partially opposite the abutting surfaces ofsaid wall so that the fluid pressure in the central chamber tending tospread the split portions is balanced by the fluid pressure in theequalizing chambers tending to retain them in tightly sealed condition,and fluid take-off means extending into said wall at any point in thelength of the split portion thereof to spread the split portions of saidwall and form an outlet opening at said point communicating with saidsupply chamber.

5. In a pressure fluid conductor and take-0E unit assembly, a conductorline including a normally sealed, converging wall formed of a resilientmaterial, longitudinally split at the convergence of the respectiveconverging portions thereof, said conductor having partitions connectingthe opposite walls of said conductor and the respective portions of saidconverging wall to define a central pressure .fluid supply chamber, andpressure equalizing chambers adjacent, the sides thereof within saidconductor, the latter chambers being disposed at least partiallyopposite the normally abutting split portions of said wall, saidpartitions having ports connecting said central chamber and the pressureequalizing chambers so that fluid pressure in the central chambertending to spread the split portion is offset by the pressure in theequalizing chambers which tends to retain them in tightly sealedcondition, and fluid take-off means extending into said line at aselected point in the length of the split portion thereof to spread saidline and form an outlet opening at said point.

6. In a pressure fluid conductor and take-01f unit assembly, a conduitsubstantially U-shaped in cross section, a lining formed of a resilient,deformable material for said conduit, said lining including alongitudinally split, normally sealed wall spanning the open side ofsaid conduit, said lining being longitudinally partitioned to define acentral fluid supply chamber, and pressure equalizing chambers adjacentthe sides thereof, means for admitting pressure fluid to said fluidsupply chamber and from said supply chamber to said pressure equalizingchambers, said wall being shaped so that the latter chambers are atleast partially opposite the abutting surfaces of said split wall sothat the fluid pressure in said supply chamber tending to spread thesplit portions is oifset by the fluid pressure in the equalizingchambers tending to retain them in tightly sealed condition, and a fluidtake-off wheel movable along said conduit, said wheel having a portionof its periphery extending into the open side of said conduit to spreadthe split portions of said lining and form an outlet openingcommunicating with said supply chamber, said wheel being formed withradially extending passages open to the periphery thereof to deliverpressure fluid from said opening, and means communicating with saidpassages to deliver air therefrom.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 in which said Wheel is revolvablymounted on a stationary hub, said means communicating with said passagesand including a passage in said hub in communication with only theradial passages in said wheel which are in communication with saidopening, and a supply hose connected to the passage in said hub.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which tracks are provided onthe side walls of said conduit, and spacedapart, depending hangermembers movable along said tracks to support the hub of said wheel, saidhanger members having rollers guided on said tracks.

9. In a fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, a

conductor line including a normally sealed, longitudinal- 1y split underwall formed of a resilient, deformable material, longitudinally disposedtrack members including laterally extending, downwardly inclined legssupported on opposite sides of said conductor, inwardly inclined,

depending hanger members supported by said tracks, said hanger membershaving rollers journaled thereon guiding on said tracks for movementtherealong, a fluid take-off wheel revolvably supported under saidconductor by said hanger members, a portion of the periphery of saidwheel extending into said line at a point intermediate the lengththereof to spread the line and form an outlet opening at said point,spaced-apart ports in said wheel open to the periphery thereof tocommunicate with the opening thus provided, said wheel being ofsuflicient width and diameter so that the peripheral surface in contactwith the the line covers the area surrounding said opening to preventthe escape of said fluid to atmosphere, and means connected only to theports in said Wheel in communication with said opening to deliver fluidtherefrom.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 in which said means includes astationary hub for said wheel, said hub having a vertically disposedpassage leading out of said hub in the plane of said ports, a bore incommunication therewith opening out of one end of the hub, and a take- 6off line in communication with said bore secured to said end of the hub.

11. In a pressure fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, a conduitsubstantially U-shaped in cross section open along the lower facethereof, a lining formed of a resilient, deformable material for saidconduit, said lining including a normally closed lower wall spanning thelower face of said conduit formed of converging Wall portions enlargedand vertically split along their line of convergence, longitudinallydisposed, integral partitions within said lining connecting therespective split portions of said wall with the opposite wall of saidlining to define a pressure fluid supply chamber above said splitportions and pressure equalizing chambers adjacent said supply chamberon the sides thereof, means for admitting pressure fluid to the supplychamber and from the supply chamber to said pressure equalizingchambers, the latter chambers being disposed at least partially oppositethe split, normally abutting portions of said wall so that the fluidpressure in said supply chamber tending to spread said abutting portionsis balanced by the fluid pressure in the equalizing chambers tending tohold. the portions in tightly sealed abutting relation, laterallyextending tracks supported on opposite sides of said conduit, spaceddepending hanger members including rollers riding on said tracks andmovable therealong, a stationary hub supported by said hanger membersunder said conduit, a fluid take-ofl wheel revolvably journaled on saidhub with a portion of the periphery thereof extending into said conduitto spread the abutting portions of said lining to form a restrictedoutlet opening for said supply chamber, said wheel having radiallyextending ports through said wheel in the plane thereof open to theperiphery thereof, said hub having a passage open only to the ports incommunication with said outlet opening, and a delivery hosecornmunicating with the passage in said hub.

12. In a fluid conductor and take-01f assembly, a normally sealed,longitudinally split conductor line formed of a resilient, deformablematerial, a revolvable fluid takeoff wheel including radially extending,interconnected ports open to the periphery thereof extending into saidline at a point interjacent the ends thereof to spread the line and forman outlet opening at said point in communication with certain of saidports, said wheel being of sufficient Width and diameter so that theperipheral surface in contact with the line seals the area surroundingsaid opening to prevent the escape of fluid to atmosphere, valve meansin the outer portions of said ports normally closing said ports butopened by the pressure fluid in said line to permit passage of fluidinto the ports in communication with said outlet opening, and means forreceiving the fluid from said ports and delivering it from said wheel.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said line islongitudinally partitioned to define a central fluid supply chamber andpressure equalizing chambers adjacent the sides thereof, said wheelextending into communication with said central chamber.

14. The combination defined in claim 12 in which a hub for said wheelprojects laterally therefrom and is fixed thereto, a passage in said hubis in communication with said ports, and one end of said hub isrotatable in a fitting communicating with the passage in said hub.

15. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said ports areintersecting and an annular header chamber is provided in said wheel,certain of said passages extending into communication with said headerchamber, said means for receiving the fluid from the ports includingalso a hub for the wheel with a passage therein in communication withsaid header chamber.

16. The combination defined in claim 2 in which tracks are provided onsaid conductor line and a laterally projecting hub is provided for saidWheel, hanger members including rollers riding on said tracks rotatablysupporting said hub.

17. In a pressure fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, aconductor line having a wall with at least a portion thereof formed of aresilient material, the said portion thereof being split, and fluidtake-01f means movable on said line extending into said portion of theWall at any selected point in the length of the split portion thereof tospread the respective sections of said portion of the wall and form anoutlet opening at said point, said resilient Wall closing tightlyagainst the portion of said takeof? means which extends into said Wallto prevent the escape of pressure fluid to atmosphere.

18. In a fluid conductor and take-off unit assembly, a conductor line, afluid take-off Wheel including radially extending ports open to theperiphery thereof rotatably movable along said line with its peripheralsurface in engagement with the line, means for passing fluid in said 8conductor into at least one port which opens to the surface of saidWheel which is in engagement with the line at points along the lineWithout permitting the escape of any fluid to atmosphere, and means incommunication With only the ports in the engaged peripheral surface todeliver the fluid therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS637,333 Halsey Nov. 21, 1899 693,516 Halsey Feb. 18, 1902 700,224 McRaeMay 20, 1902 1,532,774 Page Apr. 7, 1925 2,455,334 Hill Nov. 30, 1948

